Metalworking machine



April 18, 1939. F. H. LE JEUNE METALWORKING. MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1957 F'I G.|.

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FRANK. H LeJEUIk.

F'l G. 2.

A TTORNEVS April 18, 1939. H JEUNE 2,154,983

METALWORKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

A TTORNE YS Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE METALWORKING MACHINE Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,868

15 Claims.

This invention relates generally to metal working machines and refers more particularly to apparatus for fashioning a sheet metal blank to a predetermined cross sectional contour.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to simplify, render more efficient and improve generally the manufacture of sheet metal discs or rings of a predetermined cross sectional contour. In accordance with this invention, a sheet metal ring having an axially extending annular portion provided at the free ends thereof with oppositely extending radial portions is fashioned from a blank by a relatively simple punching operation.

Another advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a metal Working machine embodying parts designed and operated in such a manner as to fashion a blank to the above contour without tearing, wrinkling, or otherwise marring the surface of the completed disc. The particular construction of the parts and the manner in which the same cooperate to perform the desired results will be more readily apparent upon considering the folv lowing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

figure 1 is a sectional view through a metal working machine constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the several parts thereof in their inoperative positions;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing the several parts of the apparatus in an intermediate position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the parts upon completion of the forming operation; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line l--4 of Figure 3.

In general, a blank in the form of a sheet metal ring A is seated upon the top surface of the vertically reciprocable pad it when the latter is in its raised position shown in Figure 1 and the punch ii is lowered by the ram l2. As the punch ii moves downwardly toward the pad It), a yielding pressure is exerted on the periphery of the frusto-conical flange B of the blank by means of a ring it normally urged in a downward direction by means of a plurality :0 of coil springs M interposed between the top side of the ring and the bottom surface of the punch holder l5. It will, of course, be understood that the pressure exerted on the periphery of the frusto-ccnical flange B of the blank A by the ring it, bends this flange downwardly and, in so doing, expands or flares the axially extending portion C of the blank A outwardly. When the force resisting bending of the blank A by the ring 23 exceeds the downward pressure exerted on the ring by the springs M, the punch H moves downwardly relative to the ring l3 into the axially extending portion C of the blank and into engagement with the radially inwardly extending flange D of the blank. Continued downward movement of the punch exerts a thrust on the pad it in a corresponding direction and causes the latter to move with the punch into the annular die section l5.

Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that when the punch is moved into the annular die section l5, the same cooperates with the inner cylindrical surface of the die section to reset or reform the axially extending portion of the blank. During this resetting operation, the ring l3 continues to exert yielding pressure on the frusto-conical flange B of the blank tending to flatten this flange against the radial top surface of the annular die section l5. This yielding pressure is continued until the upper surface of the die ring is positively engaged by the punch holder l5, whereupon the ring 13 is positively moved as a unit with the punch to flatten the flange B of the blank against the upper radial surface of the die section I 5'. During the final flattening operation effected by the ring l3, the pad Hi positively engages the top surface of the bolster plate i6, and the lower end of the punch H cooperates with the pad to flatten the inwardly extending radial flange D of the blank. Simultaneously with the two above operations, the exterior cylindrical surface of the lower end of the punch cooperates with the adjacent cylindrical surface of the annular die section 5 to form the axially extending connecting portion of the completed disc or ring. The relative positions of the several parts of the apparatus assume upon completion of the forming operation are shown in Figure 3, and the cross sectional contour of the flnished product is also clearly illustrated in this figure.

As will be more fully hereinafter set forth, when the ram i2 is returned to its uppermost position, the pad it follows the punch II the distance required to eject the sheet metal ring from the die It, whereupon continued upward movement of the punch by the ram is effected relative to the pad Hi. After the sheet metal ring is ejected from the die l5, the same is stripped from the lower end of the punch by means of a stripper I I acting through the pressure ring I3. Upon reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that during the final upward travel of the ram I2, the stripper I? is positively moved downwardly by engagement of the stripper pin l8 with a positive abutment on the ram. Inasmuch as the stripper I I abuts the top surface of the pressure ring I3, it follows from the above that the latter is moved downwardly with the stripper relative to the punch II and that the sheet metal ring is effectively stripped from the lower end of the punch.

Referring now more in detail to the particular construction of the apparatus selected herein for the purpose of illustration, it will be noted that the punch holder I5 is secured to the ram I2 for actuation thereby and is guided throughout its movement by means of pins 20 secured to the bolster plate I6 at diametrically opposite sides of the path of travel of the punch I I. The lower ends of the pins 20 are suitably fixedly secured in the bolster plate l6 and the upper ends of the pins are slidably received in bushings 2| secured within openings 22 formed in the punch holder I2. The underside of the punch holder I2 is formed with a recess 23 therein and this recess is shown in Figure 4 as elongated in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the ram. The dimension of the recess 23 is such as to receive the stripper I1 and to permit the vertical displacement of the stripper relative to the punch required to strip the sheet metal ring from the lower end of the punch H. As briefly indicated above, the stripper actuates the pressure ring to eflect the stripping operation, and for accomplishing this result the opposite ends of the stripper are provided with depending projections 24 adapted to rest upon the top surface of the stripper ring I3 throughout the operation of the apparatus. The central portion of the stripper I1 is engaged by the lower end of a vertical pin I8 extending through an opening formed in the punch holder I5 and having the upper end adapted to engage an abutment on the ram in timed relation to upward movement of the ram to positively move the stripper and pressure ring I3 in a downward direction.

The pressure ring I3 surrounds the punch II and has a lost motion connection with the ram providing relative vertical movement of the latter and the pressure ring. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the pressure ring is provided with an inwardly extending annular projection 25 at the upper end thereof forming a shoulder 26 adapted to engage a shoulder 21 formed by an annular projection 28 extending outwardly from the side wall of the punch I I. The pressure ring I3 is normally maintained in the position thereof shown in Figure 1, wherein the shoulder 26 abuts the shoulder 21 by means of the springs I4 interposed between the bottom surface of punch holder I5 and the top surface of the pressure ring I3. The springs I4 are spaced from each other circumfere'ntially of the pressure ring I3 and are supported between the two aforesaid members under compression. The upper ends of the springs M are received in recesses 29 formed in the underside of the punch holder I5, and the lower ends of the springs are seated in registering recesses 30 formed in the top surface of the pressure ring I3.

Upon reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that the lost motion connection between the pressure ring I3 and punch is so determined that when the former is in its lowermost position with respect to the latter, the bottom surface of the pressure ring I3 is substantially flush with the corresponding surface of the punch. As a consequence, the pressure ring engages the periphery of the frusto-conical flange B on the blank A prior to engagement of the punch with the blank and a yielding pressure is applied to the flange B to flatten this flange. As pointed out above, when the resistance to flattening of the flange B by the ring I3 exceeds the downward force exerted on the ring I3 by the springs I4, the ram continues to move downwardly relative to the ring I3 until the underside of the punch holder I5 positively engages the top surface of the ring I3. When this condition exists, the lower end of the punch extends below the bottom surface of the ring l3 a distance equal to the axial portion of the sheet metal ring and the pressure ring I3 is positively moved downwardly with the punch.

The punch I I is formed of two superposed sections and 35 accurately positioned with respect to each other by means of a cylindrical pilot 31 supported in registering recesses 38 in the adjacent surfaces of the sections and having the exterior surface engaging the inner side walls of the recesses. The two sections are rigidly secured together by means of the studs 39 and the unit is secured to the underside of the punch holder I5 by means of the studs 40. Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that when the punch is in its lowermost position, the lower end of the section 36 extends into the annular die section l5 and the adjacent cylindrical surfaces of these members cooperate with each other to form the axially extending portion of the sheet metal ring. In the present instance, the die section I5 is rectangular in cross section and is secured in an annular holder 4| which, in turn, is rigidly secured at circumferentially spaced points to the upper surface of the bolster plate I6 by means of the studs 42,

Upon reference to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, it will be noted that the holder 4| in addition to supporting the annular die section l5 in predetermined position with respect to the punch, also forms a guide for the vertically reciprocable pad II]. In detail, the annular holder 4| is provided with an inner cylindrical surface 44 below the die of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the annular die section I5 and this surface slida-bly engages a cylindrical enlargement 45 at the bottom of the pad I0. As a result, vertical upward movement of the pad II) from the lowermost position thereof in seating engagement with the top surface of the bolster plate I5, is limited by engagement of the upper annular surface 41 of the enlargement 45 with the bottom surface 48 of the die section I5. The reduced portion of the cylindrical pad I i! has a sliding fit with the inner annular surface of the die ring and when the pad is in its lowermost position, shown in Figure 3, the top surface of the pad is spaced downwardly into the die section I5 from the top surface thereof a distance predetermined to permit forming the axially extending portion of the sheet metal ring between the portion of the inner cylindrical Wall of the die section above the pad and the adjacent cylindrical surface of the punch.

The pad I0 is normally urged by a compressible medium to its uppermost position shown in Figure 1, wherein the surface 4'! of the enlargement 45 engages the surface 48 on the die section I5, and these two surfaces are spaced from each other a distance predetermined to locate the pad with its upper surface substantially flush with the corresponding surface of the die section I5. In the present instance, the pad If! is held in its uppermost position by air under a constant pressure, and this air is supplied through a groove 49 to a vertical cylinder 50 in the form of a bore extending centrally through the bolster plate. The arrangement is such as to provide an air cushion beneath the pad I0 of suflicient pressure to move this pad to its uppermost position, shown in Figure 1, when the pressure exerted by the punch on the top of the pad is relieved.

The operation of the several parts of the apparatus to fashion the blank shown in Figure 1 to the cross sectional contour shown in Figure 3 has been described with some particularity in the general description of the apparatus and the description of the operation will not be duplicated at this point. It is to be noted, however, that the apparatus renders it possible to expediently fashion a blank of the shape illustrated in Figure 1 to the contour shown in Figure 3 by a relatively simple punching operation without wrinkling or' otherwise marring the sheet metal.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the flared portion tending to bend the latter in the general direction of movement of the ram and effective upon continued movement of the ram toward the blank to positively bend said flared portion, means actuated by the ram to exert a positive pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank in timed relation to the operation of the aforesaid means, and means cooperating with both of said means to form the blank to a predetermined cross sectional contour.

2. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the flared portion tending to bend the latter in the general direction of movement of the ram and eflective upon continued movement of the ram toward the blank to positively bend said flared portion, means cooperating with said means to form the flared portion of the blank to a predetermined cross sectional contour, means actuated by the ram to exert a positive pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank in timed relation to the operation of the aforesaid means and cooperating with the second named means to form the annular connecting portion of the blank, and means cooperating with the last named means to form said inwardly extending flange of the blank.

8. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means efiective upon initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the flared portion tending to bend the latter in the general direction of movement of the ram and effective upon continued movement of the ram toward the blank to positively bend said flared portion, means cooperating with said means to form the flared portion of the blank to a predetermined cross sectional contour, means actuated by the ram to exert a positive pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank in timed relation to the operation of the aforesaid means and cooperating with the second named means to form the annular connecting portion of the blank, and means cooperating with the positive pressure exerting means to form the inwardly extending flange to a predetermined contour comprising a member movable by the ram and opposing the movement of the last named means by said ram.

4. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a pressure on the flared portion and to bend the latter in the general direction of movement of the ram toward the blank, a member actuated by the ram to exert a pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank in timed relation to the operation of the aforesaid means and having a portion engageable with the annular connecting portion of the blank, means cooperating with the first named means to form the flared portion to a predetermined contour, and means cooperating with the member and last named means to form the annular and inwardly extending portions of the blank to a predetermined cross sectional contour.

5. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon movement of the ram toward the blank to bend the flared portion and annular connecting portion of the blank outwardly, means cooperating with said means upon continued movement of the ram in said direction to form the flared portion to a predetermined contour, means effective upon said continued movement of the ram to exert a pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank, and means cooperating with both the second and last named means to reset the annular portion and to form the inwardly extending flange to a predetermined contour.

6. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means efiective upon movement of the ram toward the blank to bend the flared portion and annular connecting portion of the blank outwardly, means effective upon said continued movement of the ram to exert a pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank, and means cooperating with the last named means to reset the annular portion of said blank.

'7. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the free edge portion of the flared section of the blank and upon continued movement of the ram in said direction to bend the blank and annular portion outwardly, means actuated by the ram and effective in timed relation to said bending operation to exert a pressure on the inwardly extending flange of the blank, and means cooperating with the last named means to reset the annular portion of the blank and to form the flange of said blank to a predetermined contour.

8. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, a punch head actuated by the ram and engageable with the inwardly extending flange of the blank during the final portion of movement of the ram toward the blank, means cooperating with the punch head to form the inwardly extending flange of the blank to a predetermined contour, means actuated by the ram and engageable with the free edge portion of the flared section of the blank prior to engagement of the punch head with the inwardly extending flange of the blank, said second named means including a member surrounding the punch head and movable relative to the latter in the direction of travel of the ram, said member having a portion engageable with a stop on the punch head in one extreme position of the member to locate the latter in a position to provide engagement of said member with the flared portion of the blank during the initial movement of the ram toward the blank, compressible means acting on said member to exert a yielding pressure on the flared portion of the blank and resisting movement of the punch head toward the blank, and means effective upon continued movement of the punch in the latter direction to positively move the member as a unit with the punch.

9. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon movement of the ram toward the blank to bend the flared portion and annular connecting portion of the blank outwardly, an annular die member having a portion cooperating with said means upon continued movement of the ram in said direction to form the flared portion to a predetermined contour, a punch head movable with the ram and having a portion effective upon said continued movement of the ram to extend into the die and cooperate with the inner surface of the latter to form the annular connecting portion of the blank, and means cooperating with said punch head to form the inwardly extending flange to a predetermined contour.

10. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to: the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon movement of the ram toward the blank to bend the flared portion and annular connecting portion of the blank outwardly, an annular die member having a portion cooperating with said means upon continued movement of the ram in said direction toform the flared portion to a predetermined contour, a punch head movable with the ram and having a portion effective upon said continued movement of the ram to extend into the die and cooperate with the inner surface of the latter to form the annular connecting portion of the blank, a pad reciprocably mounted in the die and cooperating with the punch head to form the inwardly extending flange to a predetermined contour, and compressive means normally urging said member toward the punch head.

11. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portionv connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon, initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the free edge portion of the flared section of the blank and upon continued movement of the ram in said direction to exert a positive force on said flared portion of the blank, an annular die member having a portion cooperating with said means during the application of the positive force on the flared portion of the blank to form said portion to a predetermined contour, a punch head actuated by the ram and having a portion effective upon said continued movement of the ram to extend into the die and cooperate with the inner surface of the latter to form the annular connecting portion of the blank, and means cooperating with said punch to form the inwardly extending flange of the blank.

12. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, an annular die having an inner annular surface, a ram movable toward and away from the die, a pad reciprocably mounted in the die from a position adjacent the top of the die to a position spaced downwardly from the top of said die and engageable with the inwardly extending flange of the blank to support the latter, compressible means resisting movement of the pad from its uppermost position, a member positioned directly above the top surface of the die and connected to the ram by compressible means whereby initial movement of the ram toward the die causes the member to exert a yielding pressure upon the free edge portion of the flared section of the blank, means carried by the ram and effective upon continued movement of the latter toward the die to positively move the member as a unit with the ram to bend the flared portion and annular connecting portion of the blank toward the top of the die, and a punch head actuated by the ram and having a portion movable into the die in engagement with the inwardly extending flange of the blank during 'said bending operation, said punch effecting a downward movement of the pad in the die against the action of the compressible means and the portion aforesaid of the punch cooperates with the inner annular surface of the die to reform the annular connecting portion of the blank.

13. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, an annular die having an inner annular surface, a ram movable toward and away from the die, a pad reciprocably mounted in the die from a position adjacent the top of the die to a position spaced downwardly from the top of said die and engageable with the inwardly extending flange of the blank to support the latter,

compressible means resisting movement of the pad from its uppermost position, a member positioned directly above the top surface of the die and connected to the ram by compressible means whereby initial movement of the ram toward the die causes the member to exert a yielding pressure upon the free edge portion of the flared section of the blank, means carried by the ram and effective upon continued movement of the latter toward the die to positively move the member as a unit with the ram tobend the flared portion and annular connecting portion of the blank toward the top of the die, and a punch head actuated by the ram and having a portion movable into the die in engagement with the inwardly extending flange of the blank during said bending operation, said punch effecting a downward movement of the pad in the die against the action of the compressible means and the portion aforesaid of the punch cooperates with the inner annular surface of the die to reform the annular connecting portion of the blank and effective upon upward movement of the ram to move said member downwardly relative to the punch to strip the blank from the latter.

14. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having a flared portion extending outwardly from the inwardly directed flange, a ram movable toward and away from the blank, means effective upon initial movement of the ram toward the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the flared portion tending to bend the latter in the general direction of movement of the ram and effective upon continued movement of the ram toward the blank to positively bend said flared portion, cooperating means rendered operative by the ram to positively clamp the inwardly extending flange of the blank therebetween in timed relation to the operation of the aforesaid means, and means cooperating with both of the above named means to form the blank to a predetermined cross sectional contour.

15. In apparatus for fashioning a blank having an inwardly directed flange and having an outwardly extending flared portion connected to the inwardly extending flange by an annular portion, a punch movable into and out of engagement with the inwardly extending flange of the blank, means effective upon initial movement of the punch toward the inwardly directed flange of the blank to exert a yielding pressure on the free edge portion of the flared section of the blank and upon continued movement of the punch toward the inwardly directed flange of the blank to positively bend the flared and annular portions: of the blank outwardly, and means cooperating with said punch in timed relation to the operation of the aforesaid means to reset the annular portion of the blank and to form the flared portion of the blank to a predetermined contour.

FRANK H. LE JEUNE. 

